Headquartered in Japan and with branches across the world, the electronics giant and key equipment vendor for the world’s biggest electronics manufacturing service (EMS) providers, required a specialist solution for component identification and traceability. This was crucial for the electronics company to provide its own clients - original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs) in the global electronics industry - with equipment for printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing able to cope with varied electronics components and fluctuating production volumes. Component identification is required in the PCB manufacturing process, where several kinds of 1D and 2D bar codes need be identified and have their data collected, while electronics component traceability helps reduce recall exposure, as well as improve product quality and line efficiency.

In order to meet these requirements, the electronics manufacturer has now deployed 700 Datalogic Matrix 210™ 2D barcode readers in its Chinese plant for a number of specified needs.

These included 1D and 2D bar codes reading capability – up to 5 mil wide FOV at a close distance for compactness and optimal installation. Connectivity is also a plus, allowing various interfaces such as Ethernet, USB A/B and RS232, as well as ease of installation and operational ability in confined spaces.

The Matrix 210™, renowned for its ability to provide extreme reading performance and integrated Ethernet in an ultra-compact housing was chosen by the customer above other systems due to best test performance, competitive pricing and unrivalled technical support. Thanks to the WVGA image sensor, capturing up to 60 frames per second and to the powerful internal illuminator, the Matrix 210™ offers extreme dynamic reading capability. The unrivalled decoding libraries running on the new high speed hardware platform deliver superior reading robustness and impressive decoding rates, supporting high system throughput and so improving efficiency of productions.

In addition, the on-board Ethernet makes effective the transfer of both reading data and captured images, that can be easily and quickly uploaded on external PCs or servers, simply for storage or also for offline process analysis. Furthermore a 90° reading window allows for perfect contact reading and simple mechanical integration into narrow spaces, while the ‘Green Spot’ - projected onto the scanned object – provides an easy and real-time feedback of the reading status without any additional supervisory software.

Overall, the deployment of the Datalogic solution has resulted in an integrated system for the customer - which in turn, ensures the entire PCB manufacturing process operates efficiently with any problems being detected quickly and the process adjusted accordingly.

“With Datalogic’s solution in place, the electronics manufacturer is now able to offer its clients an excellent and flexible barcode reading for tracking and inspecting all the electronics components involved in the SMT process,” said Mr. Gian Paolo Fedrigo, CEO of Datalogic Automation. “Thanks to the Datalogic Matrix 210™, the world biggest EMS providers are able to ensure cost-effective and high quality production of their components.”